Bouncing out ” our new creative blue “!

Just when I was inwardly noting that this page , seems to have met a bit of a “brick wall” – suddenly here there are some new voices, voices from the deep dark echoes of lonely cyber-culture-spaced PACE, slowly beginning to be heard.

Yes, have to say I’m delighted to see 32 comments instead of the usual 2 …delighted and happy to see a question asked of others ; responses beginning to happen between you ( which means you are getting alerts to comments and taking the time to talk back , to engage in what this post space was intended to offer – a PACE SCENE page for those and those , that are about and loving the more “theatre ” and creative vibe of Spires

It takes about 10 minutes to read one of my longer posts….

15/20 probably to read it again and note down some of the suggestions I might make , in your theatre journals ( which you should try and keep ( a diary or online record of progress and your ongoing attempt to get better ) or just even to look up anything you don’t understand …the “bigger” words I might use …even look at a link to something that is attached …because that way it all starts to make a bit more sense than just a quick read of something you feel you have to do , In case you get caught out ” in drama class ” not having done it .

Now that some are at a better stage , a turning point in their PACE journey , that extra half hour , once a week …to find the time to shut your door in your room , come off your usual social media stream and switch to a more cultured one , a drama getting better one …is definitely going to make a difference. Believe me.

Because that precious half hour , connects you to the bigger picture here , to the ones who are already seeing the benefit of living ” a life less youth ordinary”

There is no doubt though , there is a definite shift to being more open about you all needing ” a more open and cultured approach to things ” – a ” youth theatre culture” that isn’t going to accept that just because you’re young , doesn’t mean you won’t get it , can’t understand it or won’t appreciate it anyway.

Now those who have mocked it , or resisted it here up till now . are more in the minority , not the majority . And that my young pace friends is as it always should be . Because a higher status of thought is better than always having to dumb things down to the lowest expectation group denominator, isn’t it ?

We always said this shouldn’t just be another type of secondary school peer environment , where you have to fit in to a certain group , do what others do and change yourself at the expense of your own individuality in order to “get through” and out the other side.

We always said this Spires School of thought , allows the Unusual , the Extra-ordinary and Special side of you to flourish in a more open way.

Some may say that’s weird …we say it’s weird not to want to be ” your complete self ” .

People always fear the unknown. It’s easier to laugh at something you don’t understand , to make those that think it…feel bad …because that way you are protected from ever having to have your own thoughts.

Anyway a ” mocking ” Laugh at things is fleeting , leaves you kind of empty …guilty even for pretending you find it amusing. In a “More fool you” kind of a way.

To be able to laugh in life is something we all need to do – to release pent up emotion, to connect in a happy way with others , to feel optimistic about things . Yes to feel more alive, aware and full not empty.

Like last night in SPIRES

It was okay to laugh at the Art of Drama. It was okay because we were moved by what we saw , laughing with the moment , not at it.

A finger up the nose to pretention …because in that moment’s context – it worked.

Laughing I suppose because sometimes Art , Performance Art and the Art of Performing itself can be ridiculous , be extra ordinary , be unusual and very special .

I know most of you are dying to just get “to a play” . I know you see others having had that and want it for yourself.

But dont you realise …last night , you were PLAYING …just acting in a different way , no lines just ideas and more physical self expression.

A play could easily have come from it , and this is always the way we go about workshoping things , linked to text work we do here – most processes here , pre shows , involve this necessary physical creative process , because better acting always comes from the time spent on addressing the group dynamic , the ideas around the words expressed bodily – to think it is just learning the lines , is almost to call acting cheap imitation.

And by flipping your mindset , you’ll see that all the extra stuff we do , the physical barrier breakers , the stuff to de-inhibit you from yourself , will make how you perform better , so necessary at this stage

The further we push you ” out your comfort zone into a world that seems really weird , strange , sometimes less enjoyable and seemingly “not for you” , is a way of forcing you to often face those “uncomfortable” truths about yourself , that you pretend aren’t there , or avoid dealing with but that will stay in the way of “you and your drama” until you ” right” them

The :

I hate my body
I can’t dance
I can’t move
I can’t communicate like others
I’m not clever enough
I will fail at this
I don’t get it
I’m nervous
I’m insignificant

Of the rehearsal room all …

Because in these things lies the root cause of any group of youth theatre underachieving with their creative potential

People are quick sometimes to say to me , that some people only come to PACE as a hobby , that they don’t want the stuff I do.

Yet I would argue , what is “that stuff” that makes me different and them chose how they will approach drama ? What do they know , of what drama is ? Who decides that this “less hard” is enough for anyone ?

Surely anyone who chooses to take drama , to do drama , to act in a more artistic and creative way …would never place the restriction of normality or everyday upon them selves . To come and only do what is already their life ? To have a switch set to ” no more than that ” ?

I have never changed in my method , in the 26 years, I have taught in PACE .

I have never , not pushed – in a different way , in my way of doing drama and inspiring youth beyond what is expected of them by others who see them as ” only kids ”

If I had set my teaching switch to ” no more than that ” – I doubt PACE would have lasted as youth fully long…I think it would certainly be different.

It’s just now , with other things and more people through our weekly doors , I just get to work practically with less people , unless they find their way to me , sooner rather than later.

And that’s really down to you .

We can offer the RIGHT START programmes . The NEXTSTEP workshop many went through last night , but it’s down to you to come , to push yourself to be seen in the space , to show me here in this BLOG site , you want more.

If you make the decision not to attend , to chose not to push yourself , to never read or comment …to turn your back on a more open and cultured life even at this younger age . You make your own PACE destiny.

You take PACE just on the one level , set your switch to automatic , and maybe yes it makes you laugh now and again , maybe every week you leave sort of content ….but how much more could you laugh , how much happier could you feel knowing you have tried harder , pushed farther , switched on more and got more … In the Creative End.

Then and only then will you be ready for the text work , the play , the empty space , the stage of great PACE work to be really proud of.

Not just the weekly workshop group , but something different , something far more rewarding than a good drama improvisation , a “cool group” tableaux or a chance to hang out with yearly friends.

There is a programme on SKY ARTS at the moment called :

A Season at Julliard

( you can catch it on I player or search for it , where people go to search for things they can’t find on mainstream ? – there will always be someone who can help point you in its direction )

I know there are a few of you with NY stars in your eyes . No bad thing ..until you face the reality of how to get there …the real competition you face ..the talent coming from other PACE-like places …all wanting a chance to study in the worlds most prestigious Performing ARTS school

Did you know only 7% of all applicants make it to the final student” cut” . 7% of thousands who apply from all over the world .

And Marcus Crawford Guy from Spires Theatre School did, he appears in the programme and it’s wonderful to see…him living his dream.

Marcus was an awesome 11 year old in Spires 1 with a twinkle in his starry eyes , who became a fantastic talented 12 year old year by embracing the culture of all things around him …the stuff he didn’t understand, the hard stuff that others found boring, that made him a much better 13 year old potential for theatre work

….and when he turned 14 he was already leading the way in the more creative Spires 1 space with his alternative take on drama , performance and the Arts.

By 15 , few could touch him in terms of his focus drive and ambition to succeed …

By 16 he lead his Capulet House to Victory in the most cultured of ways . A Hollywood bound generation who followed willingly …Abby McCann and Cameron MCNee ( albeit in the other house ! ) included , in their first ever Verona show as stage struck , starry eyed Spires 9 year olds .

And here they are today leading their houses in VX1 – so you see the cycle of learning never stops turning and the different style of learning continues. Pay it Forward …as the saying goes , as Spires work goes , an altogether ALTRUISTIC affair , where we learn to give back to inspire others on…

In such short years he had here , Marcus went from 0-100%, to his true PACE self.

It took an incredible amount of focus , determination , will power and self sacrifice for him to achieve his young 18 year old status as one of only 20 year 1 Julliard drama students.

To see him in the Julliard setting is kind of no different to seeing him in Spires ( your commitment and drive should; never change , dependant on your environment in drama)

…but what was different to see , was the same drive , determination , focus , will power and obvious talent he was now having to compete with , in others around him , to make his dream , his reality.

And whilst I know few ever want to actually be a performer when they leave PACE – the ones who do , should really try and catch this documentary , not just for the drama department , but for the dance and music department ethos too. Getting to drama school is one thing , surviving it and through the other side and into work …a monster effort other !

And for you all left from this performance collective , who chose other destinies , please know that your own future “type ” of Julliard school , university , college course …is waiting , just a short while away too .

And just because you don’t want to act …don’t close the door on Spires work , because

“you just don’t think it applies or is relevant or useful to you ”

Everything is relevant in how we approach our life .

Everything can help advance our dreams and ambition for yourself with a more prudent mindset , a better willing to open yourselves wider to your potential

To be truthful …I think many are a bit lazy in PACE and make the excuse of not wanting this kind of stuff , because they just can’t be bothered by putting in that little bit of extra effort now , when it could most matter.

And I know there will be some , who find this alternative PACE method of working , in other ways and other things outside : – first eleven sports teams , charity committees , Duke of Ecinburgh award schemes , youth enterprise schemes.

But the rest ?

How long before you find yourself “a bit short” on the things you actually need to make that important difference to your future ambition ?

To take an adult analogy , if you don’t start paying into “a pension scheme” earlier , how will you a mange to support yourself and live more comfortably as you would like , when you can’t work anymore ?

I know it may sound like a MHAIRi cliche , but : Starting young really makes the difference in the PACE end.

And finally to return to Last night , there was a fantastic change of energy in that favourite SPACE of ours …a willingness to push on after the camaraderie of PANTO and though in some years I can see the SOCIAL imprinting heavily on your ” re entrance ” to things , post panto season , there wasn’t a whiff of it to affect the outcome last night.

Maybe you are now realising you can get more by keeping it ” for outside ”

Maybe you just like “this stuff” better now

Maybe you see others around you moving on with their Spires lives and you don’t want to be left behind

Maybe it’s your destiny calling …

Whatever the reason , I’m happy . I know the House Directors for VX1 were very happy , in fact really ecstatic to know they had a different kind of creative energy coming through to them soon , for the ultimate good of the HOUSES.

This is the last Verona till 2018, by then many you class as your inspiration, will have potentially moved on.

Who knows ? There’s no ceiling to PACE in Spires now and the top SPACE may grow into something quite different , unique in its age design , may become “a theatre company” in its own right.

We know for a fact that Studio Times will only run till S4 and this is the right decision , because beyond that you should really only want to attend a youth theatre to perform , anything else is just a youth club and we are never that , never that limiting.

So think of this :

In the room thst Sunday or Tuesday was a future Verona House Director , a future member of one of the Creative Teams , Future HUB , future FIREFLY , future SPACE , even certainly in Robbie and Ben , future Marcus-like starry eyed ,stage-struck PACE performers.

For next the Verona 18 bell tolls , it tolls for thee all !

One thing you will need , to ring that bell loud and clearer, is theatre CULTURE .

The Culture of a more open mind , a creatively active and clever brain that doesn’t necessarily work in a normal academic way, but can see sideways , upside down and all around , not one that needs a mark on a paper to prove its worth, to make it happy !

What’s culture ?

Culture is your way up and out the maze of being an average anybody at any age.

It is opening your eyes a bit wider , not being scared to have a go , to taste the olive , the mozzarella , the mayonnaise , and seeded bread of life

The stuff we wrinkle or noses up at , because we just like chips and tomato sauce , the Margherita Pizza of everyday familiarity

The amount of times I inwardly cringe when I hear people say ” I can’t watch a foreign film , I won’t understand it.”

Sub titles are there for that , your brain easily does the rest , once you tell it , that you are open to try.

Most people in the world speak another language naturally without moaning , but we as a nation , are often averse to trying to converse in anything but our mother tongue . Nowadays we don’t even speak it that well. Text speak has killed grammar

I seen it – instead of I have seen it or I was
I done it – instead of I have done it or I did

And don’t get me started with “I jamped ?!”

It’s alright for language to evolve , but not at the loss of grammar. Not at the loss of being the best spoken you can be, in a way to express yourself clearly and articulately as one of the leading world languages.

How hard is it for someone trying to learn English now ? When they won’t recognise the language we actually speak any more ?

Last tangent , sorry.

Enough to say , last night was a breath of fresh air. And as I construct the new groups to take us to Summer I feel very optimistic about what’s to come , to finally being able to teach you what I can and what I know …

Not having to drag you kicking and screaming to new ways of working , new ideas and over and into new cultural horizons

I certainly think Stratford will be an eye opener for sure , not just the show itself , but “the being” around others “out with” your comfort zone , your “everyday” , your only “social environment” .

That’s the best kind of magic culture of all!

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21 Responses to Bouncing out ” our new creative blue “!

Apologies for the enormous paragraph towards the end . My edit facility on word press is playing up
I hope it makes sense ...it won't let me re post it
I got your comments Meg and Dan .
Glad the post touched a nerve ( a happy one )
Olives are an acquired taste DANIEL . I never liked them till I was older , till my food horizons and travel options were greater
Like any new Culture ..things take time to get used to .
But as you say, at least today you weren't scared to try
Baby steps little CUB ...and You'll be in culture Land in not time !

I feel has if I have just found my voice! - On the blog and in my performance, but I know I can push myself further now and have started to do that through culture and through new ways of expressing myself! I have so many things to give and now getting opertunities to give them and I can't wait to see how far I can go! PACE has been so much more than a hobby for while now and I desperately want to stay and work, collaborate, test myself, be apart of something and test myself on a creative level also!
Dervla

Sometimes a big "Mhairi blog" like this is daunting but once you put your mind to it and don't scroll past it like I do with all the funny cat videos and Katie Hopkins' outrageous updates you can really get something from it.
I sometimes feel that that is my attitude towards CULTURE, that I can just scroll past it, but it's such a beneficial element of life, it's all around us, you just need to look for it.
I really hope that Stratford is another turning point in my cultural pathway towards a greater cultural horizon and maybe I will try an olive, I mean what's the harm?

I feel has if I have just found my voice! - On the blog and in my performance, but I know I can push myself further now and have started to do that through culture and through new ways of expressing myself! I have so many things to give and now getting opertunities to give them and I can't wait to see how far I can go! PACE has been so much more than a hobby for while now and I desperately want to stay and work, collaborate, test myself, be apart of something and test myself on a creative level also!
Dervla

I am ready to have my eyes opened and my head lifted by those who have the ability to do so. First step is Stratford, which will be a much awaited breath of fresh air in amongst the prelim madness.
I have to say the first time I tried an olive I was not particularly pleased , however I kept eating them and now I rather enjoy olives.The exact same with culture for me - I wasn't too keen at first but now I have got a little taste I am beginning to enjoy it a lot more.

After Sunday I feel somewhat more comfortable with culture! I started watching deutchsland 83 last week and was surprised at how quickly I forgot the subtitles were there. On Sunday I started watching Mr Robot which I am really enjoying! I absolutely love to try new foods but olives a no go zone for me! I'm really looking forward to going to Stratford , my mind is open to new ideas, to new film and to new drama! PACE has become more than a hobby to me, I love being a part of it whether it is projects, helping with the younger classes or doing fests!
Morgan xx

Yesterday was definitely a breath of fresh air in the way that I was trying new things that were totally different from anything I have ever done before.I felt that just throwing myself into every challenge really helped me to just get on with it without thinking about it to much.
I really felt as if I opened myself up yesterday to just going for new things and when I woke up this morning I still had the same feeling so when I was in school at home economics we cooked these little vegetable parcels although everyone made them no one wanted to try them accept me and it turns out that they were actually really good so everyone tasted them.It just showed me that when you open yourself up to new things like the way we done last night or if it's even just trying a new food it still gives you a sense of pleasure to try something different .
Cara

Last night really pushed me and i feel like i really let go and just did what was happening in the moment and not following what everyone else was doing or even thinking that i have to do the opposite of everyone else. Personally i really enjoyed last night and loved getting more cultured and more aware of what is happening in our Pace world.
I know i havent always been like that, at the first mention of it researching and getting more Cultured seemed like one big peice of homework for school and i felt the stress of doing it but i know and have found that it only needs to be that if you make it that! I now enjoy researching new programs that i wouldnt normaly watch or going into a museum during the holidays and even going into art shops. Every time i do something a little more cultured it makes it more interesting.
Stratford is something i feel is going to be the next step for me and now when i go to research something it doesnt feel like a chore ever, it feels like i am making myself a better actor and performer and more knowledgable.
I am not a huge fan of different foods, i am very fussy but now that ypu have highlighted the connection to culture i feel like i can creek open my doors and try new foods.
Lucy xx

Tuesday night was such an eye opener for me, i hadn't quite realised just how much thought and story there could be behind 3 simple objects. (i realise that doesn't make much sense i appologise for that:)) who would have guessed such interesting and creative ideas could come out of simple objects such as a cup, a pair of glasses and a chair, i certainly didn't, and I now feel that i can undertsand drama a lot more and cannot wait to get more cultured with 'culture cubs' and Stratford, i think it will a big leap for me as i have never really been very cultured and i am very excited to explore this new way of drama.
Hana xx

Although I am not able to come to Stratford.Recently I have been looking at local theatre's and fundly enough I wound up at the prestigious paisley art's centre.I was totaly oblivious to all of the amazing things that are playing there.And I finally realise that now is the time to take the plunge and jump into culture I have started watching the bridge, Deutschland 83 and documentary's on sky art's these things have not only made me hungry for more but mhari was so right it helps with school work alot I now find myself in deep conversations with my teachers about this documentary, this movie I can't wait to open my mind even more oh! and even try an olive.
-Billie x

Just been to see the turner prize at the tramway! When I saw the programme on tv I didn't think there was as much to assemble as there actually is! I LOVE the way they made practical things like lamps and sinks out of basically nothing!! And after seeing it through my own eyes my opinion has changed!! Then I went to an Indian restaurant and tried some new foods!! Not a chip or tomato sauce in sight!! Back home and just packed my bags for Stratford and can't wait for tomorrow just about to sit down to watch an episode of a season at julliards!! Feeling very cultured and very happy! See you all tomorrow!!

I went to see the Turner Prize last week too and I agree that it is completely different to see it in the flesh rather than just on television. I was listening in on a tour guide and I found out a lot about each exhibition that made me rethink who my favourite one was- definitely Nicole Wermers now , it's so much more than a chair with a coat on it.

The idea of it being better to "start early" really struck me -I regret not trying harder when I was younger in Pace, because if I'd worked hard then, I would probably be a million times better now, but I guess then I didn't realise how important it would become to me. The trouble with hindsight though is that you can't really do much about it except try not to repeat the same mistakes again. So this time round I'm resolved to throw myself into new challenges not be afraid to try new things or do things differently.
On the note of getting cultured, I started watching And There Were None and I'm enjoying it a lot. Absolutely amazing acting, and a really wonderfully suspenseful atmosphere.

Culture being the building blocks for drama and theatre is refreshing yet terrifying- The spectrum of culture and the copious amount of inspiration that can be pulled from all different place is something I, as many other people in PACE do, find genuine comfort and excitement in. Although jumping into the shallow end of culture where we can enjoy shows and share experiences seems like a small scratch in a bigger picture it's all about how you interpret new ideas and how new culture works will help elucidate your ideas,
Eve.

This blog really made me think about how culture and opening my eyes to new things will help me in drama. I've watched several performance art videos and some of them were strange to me, some just a bit scary in ways, but one I really liked was by Marina Abramovic. A piece of art where she just sat there for hours upon hours staring into the eyes of those sat across from her. I was so intrigued by it and it made me think 'what are the people actually thinking?'. If they were thinking about Marina's story or wether they were just enjoying a sit down. Either way I loved watching it. Tuesday's workshop was by far one of my favourite workshops I've ever done! Even though I was so worried about it, I felt so happy in everything we done. And when split off with Abby and Eleanor I enjoyed each of the workshops so greatly that I couldn't help but just smile. Smile the smile that made me feel happy and content.
I was very sad that I couldn't make it to Stratford because of some family things but Wendy and Peter sure looked amazing and I hope to see something equally as amazing very soon!
-Lucy x

Recently I have been feeling more cultural and it makes me very optimistic as to how easy it was just to jump over that barrier. I feel much more comfortable With speaking and answering and I don't feel as intimidated or nervous as I used too ,even in the last few days. "A season at juliard" is now my favourite show , and I don't watch television much, I think this television show is so inspiring and and when I watch it I get such an urge to be on stage and push myself no matter how challenging it may be. I have really enjoyed Stratford and it opened my eyes to a new type of theatre and helped me understand the difference in drama. - Olivia x

CULTURE is such a daunting word, maybe not to you but to me it is. But you never know what can sprout out. Just like planting a seed, you wont know what will come out of it, will it be a lovely flower? Or will it be a disappointing weed? It is certain though that you will not know what it is unless you plant it. And I think it is time for me to start planting my seeds in the fields of Culture. I might not like some things and I might end up loving other stuff but at least I can say I have learned from it. Stratford and the turner are my recent seeds and I have been pleasantly surprised by both. The turner is way more interesting standing their facing it and Stratford was an unforgettable trip that has encouraged me to have a deeper look into the work of "The bard of Avon!" Equally as well the workshop on Sunday, it challenged me but it really makes you think about the other side of things and how versatile our bodies can be. Now I can start to put together pieces of theatre together and link them into a better performance. Now is the time, not tomorrow or in a months time.
Now.

I am very late to the post but better late than never. I feel like this is going to be a good year. I have that star in my eye but not for American it's now for Stratford Upon Avon and London. After seeing Wendy and Peter in the swan theatre I have now found my calling but of course not everyone gets there. I want to be one of the lucky ones who do. We all have that one dream that goes round your head and I hope to achieve my dream. People from pace have done it before, achieved the same dream I want. So what's stopping me, just the people who are doing the same.

This is a bit of a late comment but oh well. This post inspired me a lot. I do try and be cultured and always try to keep an open mind, free for new thoughts and ideas. I have always been quite interested in culture, the people around me, behaviours, places, buildings. I love reading and I am currently reading How to Kill a Mockingbird and through the eyes of Scout (a child) it has made me think/question things a lot and opened my mind to new thoughts
I've realised I need to be cultured now, keep an open mind, and work 101% percent harder than I done previously so I can 'get in young' like Marcus. His story inspired me.
I'm not the best at writing psychological deep meaningful stuff but Oh We'll...
-Olivia x

Unfortunately I have been rather lax with my "blog commenting" recently ant that is a shame because I used to really enjoy it and spend a fair amount if time on the blog. O don't know why I stopped, maybe Panto, maybe exams..... I don't know why. But now I am going to make a newish years resolution. I am going to try and comment on every blog.